Faith Gonsalves

......Bhavana Satya    

What would you do if you are a musician? You will teach music to your children or at most to your family? Or you may run music classes to your neighbouring people? If you are even more passionate about music you will cross boundaries, sing and entertain people with your vocal… But have you ever thought that the same music can change the socio-economic situations in the country? The Music can shape our culture and bring equilibrium among people of different racial, social and economic background? Perhaps The same music could bring light in to hundreds of street children and establishe their identity in this society….

All this was possible with her sheer passion towards music and sense of social responsibility…. Faith Gonsalves , who is a musician by herself  and a member in a cultural organization called  “ Artists unlimted”.  While working with the Music bands, a new thought came in to her mind,  which is way beyond all the entertainment their music troop  has been extending to the music lovers. She wanted to use her music skills and her network to bring positive social development and change in the system…. So shaped up  “Music Basti” a music school for Street children. Since her interest is to connect all the basti children through music, she named it rightly as “Music Basti”.  Faith involved  her co-musicians to volunteer music lessons to children through which she wanted to bring  confidence in street children.

Faith says, we have been giving rehabilitation,  in the other sense Food, Clothing and Shelter  to these children who have experienced violence, abuse and exploitation throughout their  life.  But to develop their own self identity  we have to give them a cultural exposure  through such educational programmes which involves their their physical and mental energies inorder to develop both. She says music has that power.  when you teach music to a group of children  it not only boosts their confidence but  brings energy and harmony in the team. Apart from entertainment,  music helps you to reach your goals,  especially when performed in group. Group singing has great positives vibes.. Through this pattern,  Individuals  master to support each other, build Team spirit, learn to be committed and above all develop a great bond among the peer group. This positive change and sense of security in them helps to develop hope in their future life and society as well.

Though, Faith started this organization Music Basti in 2008, now she has many  more musicians taking part in this great social work.. Soheil Yousuf Khan who is a member in famous rock band in Delhi called Adwait is one among them. Also guitarists Adil Ghosh, Dhruv Visvanath, Journalsit cum musician Ushinor Majumdar, Ishaan, a trained drummer  joined them to strengthen  MB activities in the Delhi city.
Faith  is  now identifying few more places in Delhi, adopting  those centres and  teaching music to all the children to see a positive attitude in the abandoned children. She is very confident that she is on the right path to see a positive change in the society

Best wishes to Faith and her amazing team of Musians at  Music Basti… let’s hope to see more such centres to hit across the country.